Spare tire hoist

ABSTRACT

A self-supporting sling-type spare tire hoist for removing a spare tire from a vehicle stowage well. The spare tire is stowed in a generally upright position in the well with the hoist underlying the tire. One end of the hoist is connected to the vehicle while the other end has a handle which by virtue of the self-supporting structure of the hoist, is disposed in a position where it may be readily grasped by the hoist operator. When the user pulls the handle outwardly of the stowage well, the hoist cradles the tire, slinging it out of the well.

ted States Patent 1 Rott [ Dec. 4, 1973 SPARE TIRE HOIST [22] Filed:June 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,061

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,712,586 l/1973 Nicholson254/1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6/1934 France 224/4221 PrimaryExaminer-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner--Robert C. WatsonAtt0rneyJ. King Harness et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A self-supporting sling-type spare tire hoist for removinga spare tire from a vehicle stowage well. The spare tire is stowed in agenerally upright position in the well with the hoist underlying thetire. One end of the hoist is connected to the vehicle while the otherend has a handle which by virtue of the self-supporting structure of thehoist, is disposed in a position where it may be readily grasped by thehoist operator. When the user pulls the handle outwardly of the stowagewell, the hoist cradles the tire, slinging it out of the well.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJ 41975 sum 3 BF 3 SPARE TIREI-IOIST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a sparetire hoist for removing a spare tire from a stowage well and moreparticularly to a sling-type hoist.

The desire on the part of automobile manufacturers to maximize theuseful interior space of their vehicles has resulted in the spare tirestowage becoming less accessible in certain vehicle models. This isparticularly true in the case of station wagons where the spare tire isoften stowed in a covered stowage well located at one side of the rearfloor of the vehicle. The spare tire lies in a generally uprightposition in the well and against the side panel of the vehicleto enablethe width of the rear vehicle floor to a maximum. Moreover, the well maybe relatively deep so that the spare tire protrudes vertically into theinterior of the vehicle as little as possible. Generally speaking, thistype of stowage substantially impairs the facility with which the sparetire can be moved to and from its stowed position. The vehicle structurein the vicinity of the stowage well may present a further encumbrancepreventing the tire from being readily removed from the well. In alllikelihood, the tire will have to be jockeyed and maneuvered out of thewell, frequently with an excessive expenditure of energy by the personremoving the tire. Needless to say, this procedure can be cumbersome,awkward, and frustrating, especially when the need to remove the sparetire is occasioned by a flat or a blowout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, among the objects of the presentinvention is the provision of an improved spare tire hoist which isentirelyiself-supporting; which supports the spare tire in a mannerwhich prevents the hoist from slipping out of supporting engagement withthe tire during hoisting; which is of a generally self-supporting shapeand so contoured that when the hoist is returned to the well, theoperating handle is always positioned to be conveniently grasped by theoperator; which may be used to assist with stowage of a tire in thewell; with which the spare tire can be quickly removed from the stowagewell with normally only one hand; which requires relatively few partsand is of economical construction; and which reduces or eliminates thelikelihood of contributing to the frustration of the user.

The foregoing as well as additional objects and advantages of theinvention are achieved by providing a self-supporting spare tire hoistwherein a selfsupporting tire support member is curved along at least aportion of its length, one end of the tire support member beingconnected to the vehicle body and the other end having a handle which byvirtue of the selfsupporting structure of the hoist is disposed in aposition where it can always be readily grasped by the hoist operator sothat when the hoist is actuated by pulling the handle, the supportmember engages and securely supports the weight of the tire as the tireis slung out of the well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate apreferred embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with thebest mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view, having a portion broken away,through a vehicle spare tire stowage well which includes the spare tirehoist of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the spare tire hoist of the presentinvention and having portions broken away.

FIG. 4 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 illustrate aspare tire stowage well, or compartment, 10 in which a spare tire 12 isstowed in generally upright fashion. Stowage well 10 is situated at oneside of a body floor panel 14. Well 10 comprises a bottom wall 16, endwalls 18 and 20 (FIG. 7), and side walls 22 and 24 (FIG. 8). Side wall22 extends from bottom wall 16 to floor 14 while side wall 24 extendsfrom bottom wall 16 to a horizontal flange 26 which is turned inwardlyover well 10. An opening 27 is thus provided between floor 16 and flange26 through which tire 12 is insertable into and removable from stowagewell 10. Tire 12 is secured within well 10 by a conventional hold downarrangement 28. Opening 27 is covered by removable cover 30.

The self-supporting hoist 32 of the present invention underlies tire 12within well 10. Hoist 32 comprises a self-supporting tire support member34, a connecting strap 36 at the forward end of support member 34 forconnection to the vehicle and a self-supporting handle 38 at the rearend of support member 34 for grasping by the hoist operator. Supportmember 34 is contoured approximately to the curvature of thecircumference of tire 12 and lies between the tire and bottom wall 16 ofwell 10. As best seen in FIG. 2, the preferred curvature of supportmember 34 is approximately to provide suitable support for hoisting tire12. Furthermore, when the tire and hoist are in the stowed position,support member 34 is preferably angularly offset approximately 25 in theclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 (i.e. forwardly) from thevertical line passing through the axis of tire l2 and the point ofcontact of the tire with bottom wall 16. For a typical tire, the lengthof support member 34 as measured along its curvature is on the order of20 inches. In the preferred construction, member 34 is injection-moldedfrom a suitable plastic, for example polyethylene, to provide a lowcost, reasonably sturdy, self-supporting piece, which nonethelessexhibits a certain flexibility which as will be seen is useful incradling the tire.

As best shown in FIG. 3, support member 34 has a laterally centeredopening 40 through a portion of which the thread of tire 12 protrudeswhen the hoist is operated to lift the tire out of the well.Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the width of support member 34is greater than the width of the tread. Opening 40 is approximately ovaland has its maximum width approximately where the tire tread contactsbottom wall 16. The width of opening 40 in this vicinity is greater thanthe width of the tire tread so as to permit the bottom of the tire toseat in the opening but the width of the opening decreases toward theforward end of the hoist. The circumferential extent of opening 40 aboutthe axis of tire 12 is approximately 50 and opening 40 is slightlyoffset toward the rear of support member 34. From consideration of FIG.3, it will be apparent that opening 40 is defined by a pair of laterallyspaced side support straps 42 and 44 which extend lengthwise of member34 and by a pair of laterally extending crossstraps 46 and 48 whichbridge the forward and rear ends of side straps 42 and 44. Cross-strap48 forms a yoke-like piece between the rear ends of straps 42 and 44 andallows handle 38 to be attached to support member 34 midway between sidestraps 42 and 44. Another yoke-like piece 52 bridges the forward ends ofside straps 42 and 44 in parallel with and forwardly of cross strap 46to define a triangularly shaped opening 50 in support member 34 forwardof opening 40. Connecting strap 36 is connected to yoke 52 midwaybetween side straps 42 and 44. The preferred embodiment thusaccommodates the length and width requirements of support member 34 witha minimum of material. A transverse cross-section of support member 34is shown in FIG. 5. The thickness of support member 34 is generallyuniform and sufficient to carry the weight of the tire during hoisting.The lengthwise side margins 34a, 34b, of member 34, (FIG. which aregenerally co-extensive with side straps 42 and 44, are turned upwardlyfrom the slightly concave contour of the laterally central portion ofmember 34 to enhance the supporting engagement of support member 34 withtire 12 during hoisting, as will hereinafter be explained.

Connecting strap 36, which is also preferably made of polyethylene,connects the front end of support member 34 to wall 18 of well 10. Theconnection may be made as shown by providing integral rivets on theflattened end of the strap which are inserted into corresponding holesin support member 36 and then spun over metal washers to secure theattachment. The preferred attachment of strap 36 to well permits strap36, and hence hoist 32, to pivot freely. One way of accomplishing thisis by terminating strap 36 in an eyelet 54. A connecting hook 56connects eyelet 34 to a staple 58 on wall 18. One hooked end 56a of hook56 passes through eyelet 54 and the other hooked end 56b of hook 56passes through staple 58. The length of strap 36 is variable dependingupon the particular location of staple 58 and may be typicallyapproximately inches in length for the staple location shown in thedrawings.

Handle 38 is constructed to be a self-supporting piece, preferably alsofrom polyethylene. Handle 38 comprises a flat attaching web 62 forattachment to support member 34, a hand grip 64 and a pair of sidestraps 66 and 68 which extend from web 62 to support hand grip 64 in aposition where it may be readily grasped by the hoist operator. Theattachment of handle 38 to support member 34 may be like that used forattaching strap 36. The length of handle 38 is variable depending uponthe depth of stowage well 10. Preferably its length is such that handgrip 68 is positioned for convenient grasping by the hoist operator at alocation near the level of floor 16. The length is approximately 15inches in the illustrated arrangement.

In order to describe the operation of hoist 32, let it be assumed thatcover 30 is removed and that tire 12 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1and 2, which is the same position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 7 and 8.In this position, the tire tread is centered laterally with respect tosupport member 34. Now as the operator grasps hand grip 68 and begins tomove the handle in the direction of arrow 70 in FIG. 7, the side margins34a, 34b of support member 34 flex upwardly and inwardly against thesides of tire 12 (as shown in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 4) so that thetire tread protrudes through the widest portion of opening 40. As hoist32 begins to bear the full weight of tire 12, the tire is thus cradledin the hoist with side margins 34a, 34b providing lateral support to thetire. It will be observed that the preferred polyethylene constructionof support member 34 contributes to the flexing characteristics of thesupport member as it takes the weight of the tire. With such lateralsupport and with the tire tread protruding through a portion of opening40, it therefore becomes essentially impossible for hoist 32 to slip outof supporting engagement with tire l2. Continued upward movement of thehoist causes the tire to be slung out of well 10 in accordance with thesequence illustrated by the broken lines in FIGS. 7 and 8 so that thetire ultimately comes to rest flat on floor 16. It has been found thatthe hoist can be conveniently operated with one hand to remove the tirein accordance with the illustrated sequence. Aside from the mechanicaladvantage inherent in this sling type hoist, the support afforded bysupport member 34 and the mounting arrangement of the hoist contributeto the facility with which the tire may be removed from stowage.

After the tire has been removed from well 10, hoist 32 may be droppedback into the well. Provided that the width of bottom wall 16 is notsubstantially greater than the width of support member 34, and that thewell is suitably constructed, support member 34 will drop into aposition suitable for hoisting the tire out of the well after the tirehas again been stowed. However, it is preferable to utilize the hoist toassist in stowing the tire back within the well to ensure the preferredlateral alignment of tire 12 on support member 34. Accordingly, withtire l2 lying flat on floor 16 at the side of well 10, the hoist may beoriented to receive the portion of the tire tread nearest the well.While hand grip 68 is held in one hand, tire 12 may be pushed with theother hand toward the well. As the tire begins to enter the well, thehoist and the tire may be manipulated so that the weight of the tire isincreasingly borne by the hoist as the hoist and the tire are swung andlowered together into the well. When the tire and hoist are fullystowed, the bottom of the tire is retained within opening 40 so thatupon subsequent operation of the hoist to remove the tire, the hoistwill engage and support the tire in the fashion described above. Afurther advantage of the flexible polyethylene construction of supportmember 34 becomes apparent when the hoist is positioned at the bottom ofthe well before the tire is stowed. Should the tire be laterallymisaligned with support member 34, the tire can press the support memberreasonably flat against bottom panel 18. Thus, the upturned side margins34a, 34 b of the support member 34 do not prevent the tire from assuminga minimum vertical position within the well.

Although the foregoing description describes the preferred operation ofhoist 32, it will be appreciated that some lateral misalignment can betolerated between tire l2 and support member 34. Thus, even when thetire tread does not completely sit within opening 40, at least a comerof the tread will protrude through the opening and it is still possibleto hoist the tire out of the well. Alternatively, it would be possibleto omit open ing 40 in a self-supporting member 34 provided that thewidth was sufficiently great to provide adequate lateral support to thetire. However, this type of construction is not preferred because of theexcessive amount of material utilized.

It will be appreciated that further modifications to the preferredembodiment will suggest themselves in view of the present disclosure andaccordingly are included within the scope of the invention. For example,the invention contemplates a one piece hoist wherein support member 34,strap 36, and handle 38 are formed as a single piece. However, the threepiece construction is preferred so that only the lengths of strap 36 andhandle 38 need be changed to accommodate different stowage welldimensions.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle having a spare tire stowage well in which a spare tireis stowed in generally an upright position, a sling-type spare tirehoist for removing the spare tire from the well comprising a tireengaging portion underlying the tire and shaped to conform to thecurvature of the tire, support means on one end of said tire engagingportion adapted to support said tire engaging portion on a wall of thestowage well and handle means on the other end of said tire engagingportion, said handle mans including a hand grip portion and an upwardlyextending self-supporting strap portion confined between the spare tireand a wall of the well, said strap portion possessing sufficientvertical rigidity to hold said hand grip portion at an elevated positionin said well where it may be conveniently grasped for removal of thespare tire.

2. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said tire engagingportion is made of molded resinous plastic matera] having a curvatureapproximating the curvature of the tire periphery.

3. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said tire engagingportion possesses a curved selfsupporting shape.

4. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said tire engagingportion possesses a large opening through which a peripheral portion ofthe tire projects.

5. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said tire engagingportion possesses a pair of upturned side margins which are drawn towardone another into gripping engagement with opposite side portions of thetire upon the tensioning of the hoist.

6. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said handle meanscomprises a unitary resinous plastic molding.

7. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said strap portionincludes a pair of transversely spaced parallel straps connected to theopposite ends of said hand grip portion.

8. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said handle meanscomprises a unitary resinous plastic molding and in which said strapportion comprises a pair of laterally spaced parallel straps projectingfrom the opposite ends of said hand grip portion.

1. In a vehicle having a spare tire stowage well in which a spare tireis stowed in generally an upright position, a slingtype spare tire hoistfor removing the spare tire from the well comprising a tire engagingportion underlying the tire and shaped to conform to the curvature ofthe tire, support means on one end of said tire engaging portion adaptedto support said tire engaging portion on a wall of the stowage well andhandle means on the other end of said tire engaging portion, said handlemans including a hand grip portion and an upwardly extendingselfsupporting strap portion confined between the spare tire and a wallof the well, said strap portion possessing sufficient vertical rigidityto hold said hand grip portion at an elevated position in said wellwhere it may be conveniently grasped for removal of the spare tire.
 2. Aspare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said tire engagingportion is made of molded resinous plastic materal having a curvatureapproximating the curvature of the tire periphery.
 3. A spare tire hoistas defined in claim 1 in which said tire engaging portion possesses acurved self-supporting shape.
 4. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim1 in which said tire engaging portion possesses a large opening throughwhich a peripheral portion of the tire projects.
 5. A spare tire hoistas defined in claim 1 in which said tire engaging portion possesses apair of upturned side margins which are drawn toward one another intogripping engagement with opposite side portions of the tire upon thetensioning of the hoist.
 6. A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 inwhich said handle means comprises a unitary resinous plastic molding. 7.A spare tire hoist as defined in claim 1 in which said strap portionincludes a pair of transversely spaced parallel straps connected to theopposite ends of said hand grip portion.
 8. A spare tire hoist asdefined in claim 1 in which said handle means comprises a unitaryresinous plastic molding and in which said strap portion comprises apair of laterally spaced parallel straps projecting from the oppositeends of said hand grip portion.